2018 Founders Award Winner

Elizabeth "Liz" Foster, MSN, RN, WOCN

Our Founders Award recipient received 11 letters of support. It was an overwhelming emotional review that brought a sense of pride, respect and honor to this award and to this organization. Her letters of support were from the following current and past APSNA members and work colleagues: Beth Zimmerman, Barbara Mariscal, Chris McKenna, Nancy Tckaz Browne in combination with Carmel McComiskey, Pam Peiper and Laura Flanigan, Renee Manworren, Tina Shapiro, Gail Garvin, Raquel Pasarón, Carolyn Ross, and Barry Hicks.

Our recipient has been a nurse since 1985, therefore around 33 years. She worked in pediatric surgical nursing, most if not all of her career, and became a master’s prepared nurse in the early 90’s. She retired from her position as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Enterostomal Therapist at the University of Texas Southwestern in 2000, to pursue her lifelong dream of doing one of the things she loves best, and that was to cook and cook for others, by opening up her own catering business. If you want to get a “taste” of our honoree’s passion, I urge you all to see her video on The Food Network (The Next Food Network Star). Some have wondered why she did this, once you see this clip you can understand why. Even after this transition, our honoree continues to be a card carrying, charter member of APSNA, and she is also a “lifetime member,” of the organization. She consistently participates in our listserve discussions. As you can see from the other letters of support, she is active beyond belief and provides no nonsense, clear, practical guidance on how to care for her “other” passion -- children with wound and ostomy needs.

Nancy T. Browne
APSNA colleagues, all experts themselves in skin and wound care, always went to Liz with their own questions; Liz clearly knew her theory and physiology. But wound care goes so much beyond that; Liz knew how to create when there were no directions or literature. Beyond that, Liz walked the walk with her colleagues, following up to see how a particular child was doing, how we were doing. Liz’s support and collegiality are two of her greatest strengths.
Liz actively contributed to the creation and growth of APSNA in its early years. On various Board positions, ultimately becoming President, Liz gave hours of time to countless projects. APSNA is stronger for her service.
Generous in spirit, Liz continued to provide leadership and support after leaving APSNA leadership and her primary practice. Knowing that many nurses did not have sufficient funding for wound care training, Liz quietly provided financial support to an APSNA scholarship that would encourage education in wound care. THIS IS KNOWN AS THE FOSTER GRANT.
Finally, to know Liz is to know a spirit who certainly represents her home state of Texas. While never quiet about her opinion or decision making ability, Liz also remembered to listen, be inclusive and respectful, and improved the quality of every project she touched.

Barbara Mariscal
My first memories of Liz were her presentations at the 2000 APSNA conference. As President that year she was such a dynamic speaker. She was organized and confident. She encouraged everyone to think outside of the box and to take on new challenges. As new member of the organization and of the Board, I often thought how lucky I was to be working with and mentored by such an intelligent and dedicated professional.

Renee Manworren
Liz was a founding member and APSNA’s first membership chair (with Pam Pieper), and our second (with Pam Pieper), and our third (she must have given Pam the boot), and our fourth membership chair. The organization grew from 50 to 150 members thanks to Liz’s efforts. She attracted members like bees to honey. We had so many, well Liz would say, “You couldn’t stir ‘em with a stick.”
It was about this time, I took a position down the road a pinch. Liz wasn’t surprised when I called her begging that she get me a job with her. I believe she said “they’re about as confused as a fart in a fan factory,” I’ll see what I can do and she did. She lead with sincerity and by example. It was my privilege to nominate her for President then and for this award now.
And the queen of all that oozes. She was a patient teacher of Pediatric Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing. Clinically, she was busier than a cat covering crap on a marble floor. Detailing advice in her Sutureline column “Wound Care Jeopardy,” and conducting workshops at APSNA. If you attended any of her sessions, you learned “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” And she would tactfully correct you, “That thing is all catawampus,” and even though she told you your ostomy pouch was “about as useful as tits on a bull.” You always knew she was looking out for you.
For example, once Liz let me cover her service for her. She told me her patients were all tucked in; and I should only need to see them if they called. No one hollered! When she returned, my report was pretty short. Liz then asked why I let a kid on her list escape to Canada! It turns out the family made national headlines fleeing Texas on my watch and professing the right to keep your colon! Needless to say, they didn’t call and I was blessed that I heeded Liz's advice and did NOT have my name in that medical record!
Liz, I would tip my hat to you but you only taught me about boots. I know why you wear pointy-toed boots because you taught me. Let’s Drink a Margarita to celebrate because your boots will still fit; but no one will ever fill your shoes.

Chris McKenna
In 1995, Barb Wise and I began the process of coordinating the writing and publication of APSNA’s first textbook, Nursing Care of the General Pediatric Surgical Patient, published in 2000. We asked Liz to write the chapter on “Common Cysts” and she readily agreed. I remember her being a pleasure to work with- readily available, meeting all deadlines, submitting quality work requiring little editing.
While I was not on the Board when Liz was President, I remember her leadership quite well. She was very much about APSNA togetherness, doing a team-building activity at our annual conference. She was accessible, committed, hard-working and visionary. She even made an APSNA quilt utilizing the embroidered names from the donated lab coats of APSNA members.
When I think of Liz, I usually think of her as the wound and ostomy guru. She is a great problem-solver and SO creative! She was always in demand as a speaker at our annual conference- giving lectures and workshops on wounds, ostomies, gastrostomy tubes and drains. She also readily responded to list-serve questions related to these topics. I was relatively new in my position as the trauma nurse practitioner at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh when my two wound and ostomy nurse colleagues went on vacation together. I called Liz to express my anxiety, and she readily offered to be my expert resource during their absence. This speaks volumes, I think, not only to her clinical expertise but also to her commitment to pediatric surgical nursing, our patients and families, APSNA, and her colleagues.

Gail Garvin
Liz was a part of APSNA from the beginning. Never missed a meeting and always ready to help. She was an expert in wound and ostomy care and had a very innovative way of approaching challenging wound/ostomy situations. I agree she is very straight forward and willing to tell you exactly what she thinks. She always had smile on her face and was willing to help. Her heart is big and she loves dogs. How could you want more from a person?

Beth Zimmerman
She served as President from 2000-2001 during which time APSNA made multiple steps forward: textbook sales, web site development, accreditation for CEUs, on-line payments, web site approval and verification by Verisign, there were 249 members and 40 CEU credits were provided. Additionally, and very importantly for the financial welfare of APSNA there was an expansion of the Development committee initiative.
While President Liz conducted the general meeting and board meetings in a professional yet collegial manner leading to commitment and accomplishment by the varying committee chairs. Interestingly, when it was time to pass the torch Liz led us in a fellowship circle, which led to many happy memories of the relationships formed by being a member of APSNA and attending conference.

Carolyn Ross
Liz has been a wonderful mentor. Her easy going style and down to earth management makes stoma and wound care seems so logical. Her approachable manner makes it easy to ask for help and advice. She has a unique sense of humor that helps us not take ourselves too seriously. Liz has advanced the care of the pediatric wound and ostomy care thru precepting multiple students from across the country. She has worked relentlessly to have Pediatrics recognized as a unique area in the realm of enterostomal therapy and wound care. Liz has also worked to advance pediatric surgical nursing care by funding a scholarship for APSNA members wishing to become certified in enterstomal and wound management.

Barry Hicks
I have known Liz since I began my practice of pediatric surgery in 1993. She is the ultimate mentor. educator, leader, and partner caring for children for over 25 years.
She has had many formal preceptor· roles to nursing graduate students over the years, and she has educated many medical students, surgery and pediatric residents. and many Pediatric Surgeons and Pediatricians as well.
Liz is a friend a colleague, and is truly deserving of this recognition of her years of service in the name of caring for the most vulnerable of our patients.
Liz, what more can we say, but congratulations and THANK YOU!

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